Student Visa Requirements for France

Student VISA for France is based on a short stay of fewer than three months. International students have to sit for entrance exams and pass to be eligible to apply for a one-year renewable work permit VISA. Another category is a temporary long-stay VISA for up to six months and a long stay for longer than six months. For international students to stay and study in French Colleges and Universities, the Student VLS-TS is suitable for Bachelor and Masters level. French Visa issued comes with a residence permit and can be renewed. International students must have 7400 Euros per year to support themselves without work.  

Whether or not you need a student visa for France is determined by whether or not you are an EU national. If you are a European Union, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, or Liechtenstein citizen, you do not need a student visa for France. Instead, you only need a valid passport or another kind of travel identification. However, if you are a foreign national from anywhere, you must secure a student visa for France to study. 

Allow us to assist you as you plan to study in France. On deck, get the detailed information regarding Student visas for France. 

Types of VISAS 

There are numerous French student visas, and the one you need depends on how long you want to study in France. 

If your studies will last less than three months and you are certain you will not be staying in the country any longer, you should apply for the court séjour pour étude, often known as the short-stay or Schengen student visa. The Schengen student visa is free to obtain and cannot be renewed.  

Visa to sit entrance exams 

Suppose you must attend one or more university admission examinations in France. In that case, you can apply for a visa de court séjour étudiant Concours, which translates to a visa for entrance exams. If you pass your test, you can apply for a one-year renewable residence visa. For further information, contact the admissions office of the French university where you want to study. 

Temporary long-stay Visa 

The Visa de long séjour temporaire pour études is a six-month temporary student visa that permits you to study in France. You do not need to apply for a residence permit separately with this student visa for France. 

Long-stay Visa 

The long-stay Visa, also known as the Visa de long séjour pour études or the extended-stay VLT-TS, is required if you want to study in France for more than six months. This Visa serves as a residence permit and is valid for the duration of your program (often three years for a bachelor's degree, two years for a master's program, and four years for a PhD). Algerian natives do not need the VLS-TS, although they are subject to various rules. Contact your institution or the French consulate/embassy in your home country for additional information. 

How to apply student VISA to France? 

A visa application consists of multiple phases. You must first attend an interview with Campus France before submitting your paperwork to VFS. Student VISA for France application process: 

• Apply online and send all documents online to France Visas website 
• Submit your application to the VISA Center 
• Track your VISA request to obtain the status of your application by indicating the recipient number of application fees and your date of birth or your reference number and last name 
• Once the decision is made in your favor, you will be invited to pick up the passport from the VISA Center. 
• You must be ready to show your documents upon arrival in France: a valid passport, valid VISA, proof of accommodation, return ticket, sufficient financial resources, and personal insurance with medical coverage to transform your VISA into a legal residence permit. 

Documents Required for a student visa for France

You must provide two sets of application photocopies that include the following documents: 

• Long-term stay application form for stays of more than 90 days 
• Two passport-sized photos 
• Passport photocopy 
• A copy of your CampusFrance NOC 
• Academic Institution's Registration Letter 
• A cover letter outlining the research proposal, as well as a CV/Resume 
• Proof of finances - tuition costs plus a minimum of 615 Euros per month for the duration of the academic semester 
• Proof of medical insurance coverage that is valid in France 
• Copy of your round-trip airline ticket (if studying in France for less than six months) or a one-way ticket (if looking in France for more than six months). 
• OFII structure (Office Francis de Immigration et de Integration) 
• Proof of residency in France for a minimum of three months, such as a lease, power bill, title of the property, or a hotel reservation 
• Copies of the CV, degree and academic credentials, and certificates 

Process and Eligibility for student VISA for France 

If you are a student with a study visa in France, 

• It would be best if you were over the age of 18 
• You will be issued a short-stay visa for a training course lasting less than three months.  
• For a training course lasting more than three months or six months, you will be issued a temporary long-stay visa, which will require no further formalities upon arrival in France; 
• For training or a course lasting more than six months, you will be awarded a long-stay visa, similar to a residence permit and subject to additional requirements upon your arrival in France. 

Spouse: The dependant will be granted a visitor's Visa but will not be permitted to work. They may be allowed to work in the nation if their partner/spouse is employed there. 

VISA fees 

Long-Term Visa Fee For students applying for bachelor's/degrees, and master's, the national visa fee is €99. The charge is the same for both dual-course applicants and exchange students. The student must transfer the funds to the nearest BNP Paribas branch. Aside from this fee, you would also have to pay the Visa Processing Fee of €50 and the VFS Service Fees and handling costs, which total INR 1467. (inclusive of taxes).  

Note: It is always advised to verify with the embassy/consulate regarding the Visa Fee before submitting your application, as exchange rates are subject to change. 

Application processing time for student visa 

The Campus France application procedure (step 1) takes three days for expedited processing and up to 3 weeks for ordinary processing. After your in-person appointment at the Visa Application Center, the visa application procedure might take at least 2-3 weeks (VAC).